Protecting, Planning, and Preserving the Legacy

Mrs. Coretta Scott King contributed to the creation of the MLK, Jr. National Historic Site, which is highlighted in a captivating outdoor exhibition celebrating 40 Years of Protecting, Planning, and Preserving. Copyrighted image(s). Contact Intellectual Properties Management for authorized use.

Designed by Donald Bermudez

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park was established on October 10, 1980 to preserve the places where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born, lived, worked, worshipped, and is buried; while interpreting the life experiences and significance of one of the most influential Americans in the 20^th century. The 38-acre park annually hosts more than 700,000 national and international visitors. Following Dr. King’s death on April 4, 1968, his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King acted upon her vision to preserve the works and ideals of her husband.

On June 26, 1968, Mrs. King founded The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center to serve as “The Official Living Memorial" to the life, work and legacy of her husband. Eventually the name changed to Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., and today commonly referred to as The King Center. Mrs. Coretta Scott King served as the Center’s first president and is entombed on the Reflecting Pool, right beside her husband, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on The King Center campus.

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